Comic Book Reviews Scott Pilgrim 6
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Comic Book Reviews: Scott Pilgrim 6
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Scott Pilgrim, the epic series of rom-com beat-‘em-up graphic novels by Bryan Lee O’Malley, has finally come to a close with the release of Volume 6, Scott Pilgrim’s Finest Hour (4th Estate, £7.99). If you’ve already read the first five books, you don’t need my recommendation to finish up. If you haven’t read them but a film trailer you’ve seen somewhere has you thinking, ‘I’ve heard of that Scott Pilgrim bloke…’ this is why you should read the whole lot: it’s awesome.
Sorry, ‘awesome’ doesn’t seem that appropriate for the book review section of a respectable magazine like Leeds Guide, does it? Still, it fits. The series is a blistering, kinetic and heartfelt romp through life in the ‘00s as a 20-something. It stars Pilgrim himself, a slacker in a Toronto-based band that doesn’t suck, who must systematically fight and defeat the seven evil ex-boyfriends of Ramona Flowers, the girl he’s trying to date.
The action unfolds in both a structure and style heavily-influenced by the 8-bit era of videogames. O’Malley’s Manga-influenced style moves us seamlessly from charming, heartfelt moments of humour to bombastic fights against psychic vegans. The real beauty of Scott Pilgrim, however, is O’Malley’s ability to make it consistently fresh, compelling and now. His voice contains that black magic that makes it speak to a generation raised on videogames and pop music without sinking to condescension or negativity. Recommended for anyone who likes Nick and Nora’s Infinite Playlist, music, Zelda or smiling.
Posted on Wednesday 18th August 2010
Mark Johnson
OK Comics
19 Thorntons Arcade, Briggate, Leeds, LS1 6LQ
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